Turkey to send 100 students to Russia for nuclear education

Turkey will send 100 nuclear engineering students to Russia for training as part of the country's bid to diversify its energy sources, Turkish energy minister said Tuesday Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkey has already sent 190 students to Russian universities since 2011, Taner Yildiz told Anadolu Agency.

Russian energy company Rosatom signed an agreement in 2011 to build and operate a 1,200 MW unit nuclear power plant in Mersin Province on Turkey's Mediterranean coast.

The students will have a chance to work at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.

In addition to a five year education, the students will receive one year of Russian language training. The students will also have the option to continue with a post-graduate education and an apprenticeship program.

"We hope to make the Turkish public familiar with nuclear energy for and the type of resources needed to operate the industry," says Yildiz.

Up to 600 Turkish students will receive their education in Russia.

Rosatom is currently in negotiations with Turkish universities about creating nuclear education programs with their Russian counterparts.

Turkey also plans to build a second nuclear plant in the port city of Sinop on the Black Sea coast with a Franco-Japanese consortium, and a third in the Kirklaeli district with domestic funding and engineers.